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I don't recall exactly how the custom began, however I always name all my Pokemon characters Malfunction.

Be it a main series title or a side project such as Pokkén Tournament DX along with Pokémon Go — the moniker never changes. Malfunction switches from male to female avatars, featuring dark and violet locks. Occasionally their style is flawless, as seen in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest addition in the long-running series (and among the most fashion-focused releases). At other moments they're confined to the assorted school uniform styles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. But they remain Glitch.

The Ever-Evolving World of Pokémon Titles

Much like my characters, the Pokémon games have transformed between releases, some cosmetic, some significant. However at their heart, they remain identical; they're always Pokémon through and through. The developers discovered a nearly perfect mechanics system approximately three decades back, and just recently truly attempted to innovate on it with games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus (different timeline, your avatar is now in danger). Throughout every version, the fundamental mechanics cycle of capturing and fighting alongside charming creatures has stayed steady for almost as long as I've been alive.

Breaking Conventions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Arceus previously, featuring absence of gyms and emphasis on compiling a Pokédex, Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings multiple changes into that formula. It takes place entirely in one place, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City of Pokémon X & Y, ditching the expansive journeys of previous titles. Pokemon are intended to live together alongside humans, trainers and civilians, in ways we have merely glimpsed before.

Far more radical is Z-A's real-time combat mechanics. This is where the series' almost ideal gameplay loop experiences its most significant transformation to date, swapping methodical turn-based bouts with something more chaotic. And it's immensely fun, despite I feel eager for a new turn-based entry. Although these changes to the traditional Pokémon formula seem like they form a completely new adventure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels as recognizable as every other Pokémon title.

The Heart of the Journey: The Z-A Royale

When first arriving in Lumiose City, whatever plans your custom avatar had as a tourist get abandoned; you're immediately enlisted by the female guide (if playing as a male character; the male guide if female) to become part of her team of battlers. You receive a creature from them as your first partner and are sent into the Z-A Championship.

The Royale is the epicenter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It's comparable to the traditional "arena symbols to final challenge" progression of past games. However here, you battle a handful of opponents to earn the chance to compete in an advancement bout. Succeed and you will be promoted to a higher tier, with the final objective of achieving the top rank.

Real-Time Combat: An Innovative Frontier

Trainer battles take place during nighttime, and navigating stealthily the designated battle zones is very entertaining. I'm constantly attempting to surprise a rival and launch an unopposed move, because everything happens in real time. Moves function with recharge periods, indicating you and your opponent can sometimes strike simultaneously at the same time (and defeat each other at once). It's much to get used to at first. Even after gaming for almost thirty hours, I continue to feel that there is plenty to learn in terms of using my Pokémon's moves in methods that complement each other. Placement also factors as a major role in battles since your creatures will trail behind you or move to specific locations to perform attacks (certain ones are distant, while others must be up close and personal).

The real-time action makes battles progress so quickly that I find myself repeating sequences through moves in identical patterns, despite this results in a less effective approach. There's no time to pause in Z-A, and plenty of chances to get overwhelmed. Creature fights depend on feedback post-move execution, and that information remains visible on screen in Z-A, but flashes past rapidly. Occasionally, you can't even read it because diverting attention from your opponent will result in immediate defeat.

Exploring Lumiose Metropolis

Outside of battle, you'll explore Lumiose Metropolis. It's fairly compact, although densely packed. Far into the adventure, I continue to find new shops and rooftops to explore. It is also rich with character, and perfectly captures the vision of creatures and humans living together. Common bird Pokemon inhabit its pathways, taking flight when you get near like the real-life city birds getting in my way while strolling in New York City. The Pan Trio monkeys joyfully cling from lampposts, and bug-Pokémon like Kakuna cling to trees.

An emphasis on urban life represents a fresh approach for Pokémon, and a welcome one. Even so, exploring Lumiose grows repetitive eventually. You may stumble upon a passage you haven't been to, but you wouldn't know it. The building design lacks character, and most rooftops and sewer paths offer little variety. Although I never visited the French capital, the model behind Lumiose, I've lived in NYC for nearly a decade. It's a city where no two blocks are the same, and they're all alive with uniqueness that provide character. Lumiose City lacks that quality. It has tan buildings with blue or red roofs and simply designed balconies.

The Areas Where Lumiose City Truly Shines

In which Lumiose City truly stands out, surprisingly, is inside buildings. I adored how Pokémon battles in Sword and Shield occur in football-like stadiums, giving them genuine significance and meaning. On the flipside, fights within Scarlet and Violet take place on a court with two random people observing. It's very disappointing. Z-A strikes a middle ground between the two. You will fight in restaurants with patrons watching as they dine. An elite combat club will invite you to a competition, and you will combat in its rooftop arena under a lighting fixture (not the Pokemon) suspended overhead. The most memorable spot is the elegantly decorated base of the Rust Syndicate with atmospheric illumination and purple partitions. Various individual combat settings brim with character that's absent from the overall metropolis in general.

The Familiarity of Repetition

During the Royale, as well as subduing wild Mega Evolved Pokémon and completing the Pokédex, there's an inescapable feeling of, {"I